Biodigester Assemblies and Methods

ABSTRACT

Organic matter digesting apparatus and methods are provided that can include a digestion tank operatively coupled to a vertically aligned gas collection tower and methods that can include providing a biodigesting apparatus; inputting organic matter into the biodigesting apparatus; initiating the biodigesting apparatus; and outputting water, methane gas, and solid carbon-based material.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/331,500 which was filed Oct. 21, 2016, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/245,777 which was filed on Oct. 23, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a biodigester of organic matter such as sewage, plant material, animal material, and/or other degradable materials. More specifically, the present disclosure provides biodigester assemblies and methods for processing organic matter and separating the processed organic matter.

BACKGROUND

Efficient use of resources has always been an important concept. However, this ideal becomes even more important in light of what society now understands about the dangers of not being conscientious about the environment. This contradicts humanity's reliance on exploiting natural resources. However, there are potential resources that man has not exploited fully as of yet, and some of those opportunities can actually benefit the environment. It is the goal of the present disclosure to provide clean water, usable methane gas, and solid carbon material while disposing of organic matter in an environmentally conscientious manner.

DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a biodigester apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a biodigester apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front of a biodigester apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a digestion chamber of the biodigester apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a digestion chamber of the biodigester apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

Apparatuses and methods for digesting organic matter are disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1-5. In accordance with example embodiments, materials can be processed with the assemblies and/or methods provided and the processed material products separated. For example, water and/or methane can be products of processed organic matter and these products can be separated from processed organic matter, leaving a solid matter. Example implementations can include removing the water and/or providing same to external water filters and storage. The methane gas can be removed and/or externally processed further and either stored or used; and the remaining solid matter can be removed and/or sent to external cookers.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a biodigester apparatus 10 is shown. The biodigester combines a digestion tank 12 in fluid communication with a gas collection tower 20. Collection tower 20 can be vertically aligned, such as aligned normal to the ground or floor surface. Digestion tank 12 can extend from the bottom of collection tower 20 at an angle other than normal such as an obtuse angle. A float gauge 22 can be provided in tank 12 and extend vertically up from the lower portion of the digestion tank. Gauge 22 may have indicator 32.

An air slurry separator 14 can be configured to provide feed material into an input conduit 24. As indicated above, the feed material can be sewage, plant material, animal material, and/or degradable materials. Input conduit 24 can be coupled to digestion tank 12. Separator 14 and conduit 24 can be configured to provide feed material to assembly 10 without allowing products to escape assembly 10 through input conduit 24.

Within digestion tank 12 can be provided a manifold of a plurality of conduits 18. These conduits can be configured as multiple pairs as shown and may be configured to receive liquid, such as water product, via intake apertures 30. Conduits 18 can extend to the exterior of tank 12 and then merge into a single liquid output conduit 16.

Gas collection tower 20 can be configured to collect gases that may be generated during processing in digestion tank 12. These gases can be removed from assembly 10 via a gas output conduit 28. As is shown, the fluid communication between tank 12 and tower 20 can be substantially the entire diameter of the tank and/or tower to facilitate the least restrictive generation and transport of gas products. It may be desirable for this fluid connection to be large to restrict the flow of gas products into conduit 24.

Referring next to FIG. 2, a cross sectional side view of assembly 10 is shown. As shown, feed material can be input into assembly 10 via an inlet 26 extending into slurry separator 14. Slurry separator 14 includes a float plug assembly 36 that obstructs the entrance of raw organic matter to input conduit 24. At the juncture of the input conduit 24 and the digestion tank 12 is a biased flap gate 38 which serves to maintain a pressure balance, only allowing materials to enter digestion tank 12 when the flap gate 38 opens to form an aperture between input conduit 24 and the digestion tank 12. When the flap gate 38 closes shut after allowing matter to pass into the digestion tank 12, the pressure displacement causes the float plug 36 inside the slurry separator to rise and allow more material into the input conduit 24, where it sits until the pressure causes the flap gate 38 to open again.

Once feed material enters into digestion tank 12, the pressure and temperature within the tank facilitates biodegradation of the matter. This biodegradation can be facilitated bacterially, enzymatically, and/or catalytically, however natural biodegradation is preferred. Gas degradation products rise into gas collection tower 20 and exit out of gas output conduit 28 and on to external gas processing apparatuses not described in this disclosure. From there, the gas is processed and/or stored for immediate utilization.

Water and water vapor biodegradation products can be pulled into the liquid intake apertures 30 a, 30 b, and 30 c respectively, into contributory water conduits 18, and further to the liquid output conduit 16. This water biodegradation product can be sent to external filtration systems not described in this disclosure, and filtered water can be stored or immediately utilized. Solid biodegraded material can travel via gravity into an auger 34, and the material is further broken down in the auger and fed out to external cookers not described in this disclosure where the solid matter can be made into clean, useful charcoal, for example.

With particular emphasis on this view, within the digestion tank 12, as feed material is input into the tank, the matter may fill the tank to above the level of intake aperture 30 a and reach a near capacity level 31. When the matter makes contact with float sensor 33, the float gauge indicator 32 on the float gauge 22 will display a signal such as an LED light to indicate that the tank is near a full capacity level 39, and the operator may slow or cease input until enough matter has been digested through the tank 12 through the auger 34. As is shown in this view, the angle of relation of tank 12 and tower 20 facilitates the gravitational migration of feed material through processing and into auger 34.

Referring next to FIG. 3, a front view of the biodigester apparatus 10 is shown. Auger 34 is shown with a manual crank 44. An operator may also use an automatic crank to initiate the auger. To maintain constant pressure within the tank 12, the output of the auger 34 is a sphincter 42 made from a biased flexible substance such as rubber or other polymer with rubber-like characteristics.

Referring next to FIG. 4, a cross sectional view of inside digestion tank 12 is shown according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, the liquid intake apertures 30 are shown leading to the contributory water conduits 18 respectively. The conduits 18 converge at a juncture 52 a. The intake apertures 30 may be capped by filters 48 to keep solid materials from entering the water conduits 18.

Referring next to FIG. 5, another embodiment is shown as a cross sectional view of inside the digestion tank 12. In this embodiment, the contributory water conduits 18 do not merge directly beneath the tank 12. Instead, the juncture of the conduits 52 b is beneath one side of the tank, offset from the conduit closest to the juncture 52 b. This embodiment may be preferred to change the suction pressure of the conduits leading to the output conduit 16.

In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the disclosure have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entire disclosure is not limited to the specific features and/or embodiments shown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise forms of putting the disclosure into effect. 

1. An organic matter digesting apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a digestion tank operatively coupled to a vertically aligned gas collection tower, wherein the operative coupling aligns the digestion tank at an angle obtuse from the vertical alignment of the collection tower.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an air slurry separator aligned with the collection tower and operatively coupled with a float gauge, the float gauge being operatively engaged with the digestion tank.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a manifold defined by a plurality of conduits.
 4. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plurality of conduits comprises pairs of conduits.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of conduits extends into and merges with a common conduit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of conduits defines an end defining an opening within the digestion tank.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each opening is directed downward in relation to the vertical alignment of the gas collection tower.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a solids removal assembly operatively coupled to the digestion tank.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the solids removal assembly comprises an auger. 